MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State Maverick volleyball team kicks off the 2024 season hosting the Maverick Invite at the Taylor Center.

MSU will play Upper Iowa on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m., Truman State and UW-Parkside on Friday, Sept. 6 at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, and finally, wrap up the weekend against Northern Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the doors of the Taylor Center. 17+ attendees are $5 for entry, 16 and under enter free. Only one ticket purchase is required for entry to that day's slate of games.
 
About the Mavericks
2023 was a foundational year for the Minnesota State volleyball team. For starters, the team more than doubled its win total from the previous season, going 14-12. The Mavericks narrowly missed the NSIC Tournament despite finishing in eighth place; The team tied with Sioux Falls, who had the same conference record but held the tiebreaker over Minnesota State, which gave USF the advantage in the standings. The Mavericks also had its first All-Conference selections since 2019. Former Maverick right side, Sophie Tietz, and current middle blocker, Kiya Durant, both made the 2023 NSIC All-Conference Team.

The Mavericks' best win last season was at Minnesota Duluth. Minnesota State traveled north to Romano Gymnasium to take on the No. 10 Bulldogs and won 3-1. Durant finished that game with five kills and seven blocks, bolstering her to earn NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors for her performance.

Looking towards the 2024 season, the Mavericks returned many starters from last season, along with eight newcomers to the squad. The team maintains its two best blockers, each of its top four digs leaders, its leading setter and three of its top hitters from a season ago.

Both Durant and Emily Kern return for the Mavericks, who ranked fourth and fifth in the NSIC in blocks, with 197 total blocks combined. Minnesota State was the best blocking team in the conference last season (2.5 blocks per set). Durant was also integral to the Maverick attack, finishing second on the team with 174 kills and a hitting percentage of .332.

Senior Toryn Richards returns for her fourth season at Minnesota State. Last season, she filled up the stat-sheet, finishing third on the team in kills (167) and digs (163). Fifth-year athlete, Emma Loveall, also returns for her swan song; the Spirit Lake, Iowa native contributed 161 kills, 25 aces, 89 digs and 30 blocks in 2023. The Mavericks' digs leaders, libero Ellie Kline and Brooke Bolwerk, return for their senior season. Kline finished the 2023 campaign with 397 digs and 26 service aces. Bolwerk finished second on the team in digs, with 200, and was the assists leader, passing out 603 assists last season.

The Mavericks recruited three transfer athletes for the 2024 season. Two defensive specialists, Kaci Beesecker and Madisen Miller, join the Minnesota State roster for the upcoming season. Beesecker spent her first four years at Upper Iowa, where she recorded 1,048 digs and 54 aces. She was also named to the All-NSIC Second Team in 2022, leading the Peacocks with 453 digs. Miller joined the Mavericks from Florida International, where she competed in 42 matches. Minnesota State also added Presley Burrows, a redshirt sophomore from Lassen Community College. Last season, Burrows led the Cougars with 315 kills, including two-straight 15-kill matches with a hitting percentage of .560.

Along with their experienced newcomers, the Mavericks also welcomed five freshmen to the roster. Right sides Avery Klein and Morgan Bjella joined the Mavericks from New Prague, Minn. and Marshall, Minn., respectively. Setter Jadyn Lester also hails from Minn., attending Rochester Mayo High School in Rochester. Shayna Van Dyken became the third Maverick from Iowa, a native of Hull. Finally, middle blocker Manca Ostir joined the squad from Vransko, Slovenia as a middle blocker.

Minnesota State head coach Corey Phelps enters his fifth season with the Mavericks. He holds a 34-48 record with the team.

"Last year was definitely a great stepping stone," said Phelps, "but that is all it was. We are moving in a good direction, and we hope to maintain that momentum into the new season."
 

About the Peacocks
Upper Iowa is coming off an 11-17 season in its first campaign in the GLVC. The Peacocks lost in the first round of the conference tournament to Missouri-St. Louis.

The Peacocks are returning kills, aces and blocks leader, Zoe Semelroth, from last season, as she returns for one last ride. Semelroth ended 2023 with 340 kills, 46 aces and 72 total blocks. Nicole Pozorski also returns for UIU for this season. Pozorski finished the 2023 season with 269 digs (second behind Beesecker), 1,031 assists, 31 aces and 36 blocks.

Upper Iowa hired Jim Dietz as the Peacocks' new volleyball coach in June of 2024. Prior to UIU, Dietz was the head coach at Lincoln Land Community College, where he compiled a 530-200 record.

The Mavericks hold the all-time series lead over Upper Iowa, 19-4. However, the Peacocks have bested MSU in each of the last three matchups.
 

About the Bulldogs
Truman State posted a 12-16 record in 2023, losing its last eight games of the season.

The Bulldogs lost both of its top two kills leaders, but return Jessica Proszenyak, who ended last fall with 203 kills, a team-high 45 aces, 200 digs and 24 blocks. Senior setter Emma Baierl returned to the TSU squad after a 588-set, 219-dig season. Sophomore Dani Kurth is back after a breakout freshman campaign where she led the Bulldogs with 95 blocks.

David Gannon trots the sidelines for the Truman State volleyball team, heading into his fourth season at the reigns of Bulldog volleyball. He currently holds a 21-60 record as the Truman State coach. Prior to TSU, Gannon was the assistant coach at Idaho and Weber State.

The Mavericks are 3-1 against Truman State, suffering a loss in the most recent matchup back in 2018.
 

About the Rangers
UW-Parkside finished last season with a 19-12 overall record, winning two-thirds of its conference games (12-6 GLIAC). After defeating Davenport in the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinals, the Rangers were swept by Ferris State in the semifinal round.

The Rangers returned each of its major stat leaders from last season. Junior Ava Irvin ended 2023 with 424 kills and 44 blocks. Karlee Lois recorded 1,076 assists and 347 digs. Sophomore Natalie Harris finished her freshman season with 510 digs and 27 service aces. Elizabeth Truckenbrod ended 2023 with 45 aces and senior Lindsay Krznarich returns after leading the Rangers in blocks with 94.

The Rangers are led by head coach Leigh Barea, who became the 13^th head coach in program history in the beginning of 2018. Through six seasons, Barea has accumulated a 62-102 record.

Minnesota State won each of the first six meetings against UW-Parkside. However, the Rangers have bested the Mavericks in the past two matchups. The Rangers defeated MSU 3-1 in Sept. 2021.
 

About the Wildcats
The Wildcats of Northern Michigan went 12-18 in 2023, with an even 9-9 conference record. The team won four games at the end of its season, lost to No. 20 Ferris State in the final game of the regular season, then fell to Michigan Tech in the quarterfinal round of the GLIAC Tournament.

Wildcat kills leader Jacqueline Smith returns for her senior season after a 311-kill, 239-dig season in 2023. Another senior, Caylie Barlage, finished with 40 service aces to lead the team. She also finished with 271 digs. NMU's 2023 blocks leader, Meghan Meyer, returns after a 55-block year.

Head coach Mike Lozier returns for his eighth season at the helm of Wildcats volleyball. Through his seven seasons with the team, he has amassed an overall record of 112-79.

Northern Michigan has bested Minnesota State in both matchups, most recently defeating the Mavericks 3-2 in Sept. 2021.